In the Classroom   

The Ahart Herbarium at Chico State is the most complete repository of plant specimens from Northern California, containing more than 107,000 dried and mounted plant specimens. This guided visit will show you how herbariums work, what they do, and why they are an important source of information for scientific research.

This acrylic class is for the absolute beginner as well as more experienced painters. We will follow step-by-step instructions to create our paintings while also learning why and what we are doing. Paintings will be completed over several class sessions. All materials are provided.

This class offers a look at current anthropological research by screening a variety of short films about topics that have been explored by anthropologists at Chico State. Each film will be introduced by the instructor's remarks about its relevance to the broader context of contemporary anthropological discourse. All screenings will be followed by time for questions.

This continuation of personal experiences from the instructor's participation in military, agricultural, and aerial firefighting aviation will include aviation stories from after World War II. This term's vignettes will emphasize the local history of agricultural flying and aerial firefighting.

Explore the world of beading while designing your own bracelet. Get to know the tools of the trade and the different types of materials available for jewelry making. All tools and materials will be provided during the workshop.

Explore the world of beading while designing your own bracelet. Get to know the tools of the trade and the different types of materials available for jewelry making. All tools and materials will be provided during the workshop.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 1.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 13.

This class engages in a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 7.

The place: a grim Indian urban slum, overshadowed by luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. The time: 2008-2010. The real-life characters: slum residents with aspirations and energy. The plot: how they struggle and face tensions over religion, caste, sex, power, and economic envy, yet emerge with abiding hope. Using the learning through conversation format, we will discuss equity and inclusion, set in a contemporary international context.

The place: a grim Indian urban slum, overshadowed by luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. The time: 2008-2010. The real-life characters: slum residents with aspirations and energy. The plot: how they struggle and face tensions over religion, caste, sex, power, and economic envy, yet emerge with abiding hope. Using the learning through conversation format, we will discuss equity and inclusion, set in a contemporary international context.

This class includes short presentations (talks, slides, videos) followed by discussions on all sorts of current US and world topics involving history, government, policy, science, technology, literature, education, culture, and many more. Participants are welcome to make presentations, suggest topics, discuss, or just listen. Special guests are also welcome to present.

Come play with color, patterns, and textures. These can be a catalyst for creativity and a way into journaling. You do not have to be an artist. No drawing or painting is required; this is not an art class. There are no rules, and this is not a diary. Journaling is recommended for self-reflection, stress relief, and self-expression, but often is not easy to do. We will use hands-on activities to get unstuck and help you to journal. All materials will be provided.

Come play with color, patterns, and textures. These can be a catalyst for creativity and a way into journaling. You do not have to be an artist. No drawing or painting is required; this is not an art class. There are no rules, and this is not a diary. Journaling is recommended for self-reflection, stress relief, and self-expression, but often is not easy to do. We will use hands-on activities to get unstuck and help you to journal.

There are fundamental principles and institutions that uphold democratic governance and serve as essential support for a democracy's associated freedoms and rights. We'll introduce these pillars and how we relate to them. What is their interaction with our own values, our community, and civil society? How can we influence change through them? This topic is relevant for all sociopolitical leanings, and can help empower us to apply effective actions in the civic space.

Collage is a creative medium accessible to people of all artistic skill levels. We'll explore the world of collage by using different papers and techniques. There is no wrong way to create a collage. It is simply a matter of layering color, texture, and patterns. And it's fun!

In this class, we will look at old tales, their tellers and illustrators, and transitions from spoken to written literature. Fairy tales, a.k.a. magic tales, are very old and both stable and shapeshifting. People have enjoyed them in cartoons, Victorian nurseries, peasant huts, and even courts like Versailles. The original, oral forms of magic tales are violent, coarse, and sexually explicit. Sometimes governments, priests, or schoolmarms compelled changes. Sometimes, writers. There will be nine tellers with at least nine tales sent to class members.

Physical well-being allows us to live our longest, most capable, and fulfilling lives. Come ensure your well-being through mobility exercises. We'll practice balance, strength, agility, and flexibility movements that improve your mobility. Each class follows a similar routine that can be done at home, allowing you to look after the health of your body for many years to come. All ability levels are welcome. Your body will thank you!

Physical well-being allows us to live our longest, most capable, and fulfilling lives. Come ensure your well-being through mobility exercises. We'll practice balance, strength, agility, and flexibility movements that improve your mobility. Each class follows a similar routine that can be done at home, allowing you to look after the health of your body for many years to come. All ability levels are welcome. Your body will thank you!

Join this nutrition class to learn about the six nutrients your body needs and how to combine good nutrition with delicious flavor. The class will share ideas about how to choose healthy foods, snacks, and meals. We will also share healthy recipes and ideas for using herbs and spices to optimize great taste. Learn about the importance of consuming balanced meals, what physiological process happens when we skip meals, and grocery shopping tips that will support your health.

"Great Decisions" is the Foreign Policy Association's public education program about US foreign policy and global affairs. Currently, relations with other nations are undergoing great change; there are new winners and new losers. Old rules don't apply and the world is struggling to make new ones. However, the geographical map of natural resources, manufacturing, trade routes, and population centers has not changed. Join us for a thoughtful examination of the major issues and new directions in foreign policy.

An herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens. This class offers a unique hands-on learning experience as an introduction to the art and science of mounting plants. The class will cover how herbarium specimens are mounted, handled, processed, stored, displayed, and repaired. It is useful, but not necessary, to have visited an herbarium before.

Are you wondering if some of your friends are part Neanderthal? Was Herb Caen correct when he intimated that Chico is the cradle of civilization? We'll address these questions after a brief introduction to such topics as DNA, natural and artificial selection, and genetics. We can even discuss the question of whether or not we're still evolving and where our species might be heading regardless of the outcome of the next election.

This class is for those who have been studying Spanish for a while and already have some ability to converse.

Dive into the world of jewelry fabrication and discover how to create your own sterling silver rings! This is an introductory class on silver soldering where you will learn how to hammer, torch, and polish metals into your very own ring. All tools and materials will be provided during the workshop. Closed-toe shoes required. No loose clothing. Bring something to tie up loose hair if applicable.

"Jug Band: a band that uses primitive or improvised instruments (such as jugs, washboards and kazoos) to play blues, jazz, and folk music" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). We'll gather once a week to explore the history of jug bands, and to sing and play jug band songs. This class is less about musicianship, and more about exploring the roots of this great American art form. We'll listen to 1920s and 1930s recordings, and trace jug band influences on modern day music. Then we'll recreate some old-time music!

Fear and anxiety can feel like facing a dragon – but what if you could learn its language? This class offers an overview of stress and anxiety while teaching you how to understand and work with your body's natural systems to transform panic into peace. Through topics such as the triune brain, mindfulness, heart rate variability (HRV), and the aging brain, you'll gain practical tools to calm your mind, regulate your emotions, and build resilience.

Join a friendly, sociable and helpful group to play games in a fun environment. We have a literal wagon full of games, from the well-known to the obscure, and if you don't know the game, we'll teach you! You can also bring your own game to share.

Join a friendly, sociable, and helpful group to play games in a fun environment. We have a literal wagon full of games, from the well-known to the obscure, and if you don't know the game, we'll teach you! You can also bring your own game to share.

Improv is all about being spontaneous and not overthinking, so it's a great exercise for the brain. Plus, it's a lot more interactive than doing crosswords or sudoku, because we play it together. Come stretch your brain and have a lot of fun doing it!

This experiential workshop teaches practical mindfulness skills to reduce stress, increase emotional well-being, and support a more grounded daily life. Each session includes guided meditation, gentle awareness practices, and group reflection. You will learn mindful breathing, body awareness, emotional regulation, and compassion practices, along with strategies for applying mindfulness during challenging moments. No prior experience is needed. By the end of the class, you will have tools for greater calm, clarity, and resilience.

This class is for people who already know how to play the A-G chords. We play and sing 3-, 4-, and 5-chord songs by musicians from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The class is mostly to practice feeling comfortable with playing guitar while singing. There is some instruction on more advanced guitar playing. Bring a guitar, ukulele, or other stringed instrument, or you're welcome to come just to sing along with the class. A music stand and battery-operated tuner are recommended.

Reading poetry helps you to know things more fully; it commands your attention; and it can sustain good conversation. In this class, participants select poetry from favorite sources to read aloud with fellow enthusiasts.

Reader's theatre is an easy acting form of theater where actors read the scripts so no memorizing is required. There is minimal physical movement because actors are generally seated while reading the play. The acting is done primarily with the actors' voices, emotions, facial expressions, and gestures. This will be a playful class where we will read a variety of short comic plays with fun characters in silly situations.

Reader's theatre is an easy acting form of theater where actors read the scripts so no memorizing is required. There is minimal physical movement because actors are generally seated while reading the play. The acting is done primarily with the actors' voices, emotions, facial expressions, and gestures. This will be a playful class where we will read a variety of short comic plays with fun characters in silly situations.

While some people might consider "recreational mathematics" an oxymoron, this class will pursue the enjoyable aspects of math. Be prepared to be an engaged participant in this class with interactive demonstrations and exploration through drawing, cutting things with scissors, and other activities. Most activities will have a historical context. This class will show you how to find interest, enjoyment, and appreciation of mathematics in the world surrounding you.

Sing and/or play popular gospel songs. Bring your voice, guitar, violin, cello, harmonica, squeeze box, or other instrument and join a group of people singing and playing for fun. This is not meant to be religious. It's just a place to enjoy great music. Join us!

This class covers writing and conversation in Spanish. The class will be conducted mostly in Spanish; English may be used for support. Participants will have the opportunity to speak and to write short compositions for review and discussion. The class may have native speakers and professional Spanish educators as guest speakers. There is nothing like having a professional Spanish educator to help learn Spanish conversation.

Join us to learn to sing songs in Spanish. Lyrics and audio files will be provided to help you learn. In class, we will review song lyrics and sing along to recordings. The option is available for any class member to play or sing the music live in class.

Play table tennis with other members. You will get basic instruction on strokes and footwork and enjoy friendly games with fellow OLLI members. Whether you're completely new to table tennis or returning to a favorite pastime, this fast, fun, low-impact activity is a great way to sharpen your reflexes, stay active, and enjoy time with friends.

Want to hear some interesting stories? Each class session will feature someone telling their life story. Through listening and honoring each other's journeys, we can connect profoundly. Plus it's just fun to share and learn about one another. There is an option to be recorded and receive a flash drive to pass onto your family or friends. You will be supplied with a list of possible topics to address when giving your talk. Everyone has a story to tell. Come and share yours!

This is a participatory, discussion-based class exploring the hidden assumptions in our language. Does the way we speak influence and manipulate the way we think? Our language is replete with militaristic euphemisms and metaphors, political code words and dog whistles, and hidden assumptions about power, patriarchy, hierarchy, and identity. Many of those words and phrases are so ingrained in our lexicon that we are oblivious to the potentially manipulative power they hold over us and our way of thinking.

The way we live our lives is a reflection of our inner being. This class is for those who want to have a deeper, more fulfilling personal life. There will be writing and discussion exercises that will help get you more in touch with your inner self. We will explore avenues for insights into the question, "Who am I?"

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

The premise of this class is that the United States is undergoing unprecedented historical, political, and economic turmoil and crises, underscored by a re-ordering of the post-World War II geopolitical world order. Therefore, in order to understand the current state of things, this class will provide an assessment of United States politics within a historical context. The class will also situate United States politics within the context of the ongoing geopolitical realities.

This watercolor class is for the absolute beginner as well as more experienced painters. We will follow step-by-step instructions to create our paintings while also learning why and what we are doing. All materials are provided.

This class is an introduction to watercolor. We will focus on learning the basics of technique, color mixing, blending, and familiarizing ourselves with the medium of watercolor. Some classes will be dedicated to techniques; in other classes we will be creating finished works. The class will help you to feel more confident in your watercolor practice. All materials are provided.

This class encourages you to experience your own "chi field" and learn simple movements that can be used at home to help restore and maintain fluidity, balance, confidence, and resilience. Basic qigong and tai chi forms, coupled with breath awareness, can help relieve stress and enhance health and well-being from the inside out. The class is intended to be introductory, but anyone with beginner's mind is welcome to join together in the joy and benefits of the world of chi. All movements can be done seated.

Bend, twist, texture, and hammer various wires to build your own earrings! Add bead embellishments or style it your way with wire coils. All tools and materials will be provided during the workshop.

Learn fun social dances from around the world, including Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Greece, Israel, Scotland, and the United States. Line, circle, and couple dances. No partner required.

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Learn to write a short 10- to 20-minute play. We will cover the basics of playwriting, including format, structure, character, conflict, and dialogue. This is a workshop-style class in which we discuss concepts and techniques, share what we have written, and write short exercises to develop skills. Prompts will be offered to stimulate your ideas. There will be an opportunity for some of the plays to be performed in the annual OLLI Play Festival.

This is the shortest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about six minutes to complete. Tai chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn all 24 forms and by the end be able to join other groups wherever you go.

Fredrik Backman's novella And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is an ongoing conversation between an elderly man and his young grandson, poignantly relayed in the poetic voice of Grandpa. As the conversation progresses, the reader is intimately drawn into Grandpa's inner world as he meanders into the hazy twilight of dementia. Reading in advance is optional. We will listen to an excellent reading of the book on CD together as a springboard for discussion.

Tai Chi for Arthritis was developed in 1997 and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Arthritis often gets worse without proper exercise. Tai Chi for Arthritis helps to improve muscular strength, flexibility, balance, cardiorespiratory fitness, and clarity of mind. The gentle and slow movements help to improve the flow of energy and healing, and it is enjoyable and calming.

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting the flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting the flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

Vercors, an alpine fortress in the French Alps, saw many French Resistance fighters join the movement in 1944. The fighters were set to disrupt German activities to support the Provence Landing. This class will look at what happened and why through the eyes of the instructor's father, a teen at the time, who was pulled into the Resistance movement at the eleventh hour. We will read excerpts of his book about his unbelievable experience during this battle that remained controversial for many years.